Considering Netflix CEO Reed Hastings was only on stage for 30 minutes at the Royal Television Society Convention in Cambridge earlier today, he covered a fair bit of ground. From his views on acquiring production companies (not likely), to spending more cash in the UK (upwards of $500m next year) and embracing ratings agency Barb, […]
A flurry of deals yesterday highlighted the surging appetite for acquisitions and with companies including Red Arrow Studios on the block, the M&A frenzy has some way to run yet. Chances are, if you’re a production company in Europe or North America that has a smattering of successful shows on the slate – or even […]
As international revenues for the UK’s TV production sector reach unprecedented levels, there is a battle brewing closer to home ahead of BritBox’s launch later this year, with trade body Pact claiming that producers have a “gun to their heads” over rights. Major changes to BBC VOD platform iPlayer that see the 30-day catch-up window […]
The end of August traditionally signals the end of vacations and a return to work for most in the northern hemisphere but for those in charge of nascent streamers and established players, it’s been a busy month. Following a flurry of summertime activity, attention is now turning back onto Netflix to see how it might […]
A year on since forming its UK outpost and months out from launching Paris and Berlin bases, Netflix was out in force at the Edinburgh TV Festival, having made a raft of reality commissions, including a Love Island-style format, TBI understands. It is believed that the SVOD giant has finally found its take on the […]
CBS and Viacom’s merger might have created a $30bn US-based content company but a foray into their assets reveals a swathe of interests that stretch far beyond American shores, with implications for companies in the UK, Argentina, Australia, India and beyond. In one light, the deal is simply the latest salvo in the long line […]
If the behind-the-scenes turmoil of HBO’s Big Little Lies has achieved anything, it has been to demonstrate the unique turning point faced by limited series that become unlimited. The case, however unique, begs the question: can a series really be ‘limited’ anymore when the tectonic shifts rocking the industry increasingly call for returnable hits that […]
ITV Studios (ITVS) has been involved in its fair share of M&A activity over the past five years, but few deals underline a changing industry as its acquisition of Armoza Formats earlier this week. Israeli format creator and distributor Armoza Formats has been a constant at TV markets around the world over the past decade, […]
Take one look at Comcast’s second quarter results revealed yesterday and it becomes abundantly clear why the NBCUniversal owner was so keen to acquire UK pay TV operator Sky. But a shifting content strategy for the Jeremy Darroch-led company has also emerged in the post-Murdoch age, which could spell opportunity for European producers. 1. A […]
Netflix’s Q2 results rang alarm bells this week after the business revealed it had lost 130,000 domestic subscribers and undershot its international subs target by 1.9m, but in explaining the quarter to investors, Netflix bosses also illuminated key areas of its “long-haul” strategy. 1. Benchmarks are emerging We may be a ways off from Netflix […]
